Was This wrong to do?

[TonyPa]

Ok,,,my heat is fixed up,,and I have left my baby alone for a bit,,,not handling him,,he seems to be more comfortable in his tank now.....Ok...i was having trouble with him not eating......soi didn't wanna take him out of his tank yet,,,,didn't wanted upset the newbie here.....So I used hemostats, and lowered a pinky mouse down into the tank in front of his face, and he grabbed it faster than lightning......Scared the heck out of me....Glad I already went to the bathroom first...LOL..He grabbed it so quick, I barely seen him move,,it was like a blur.....

my question:

now that I did that,,,whenever I reach into the tank, is he gonna think it is feeding time,,and grab me?....Just curious....I was trying to leave him alone and not handle him, like I was told...So he gets comfy with his new home.....I will now from now on, put him in a sepereate box to eat...But just wondered about this....Soon as he so to speak smelled it,,he dove at it...

[Red]

Re: Was This wrong to do?

As long as you don't make a habbit out of it... That is one of the major reason's that you do not feed a large snake in it's encloser though...
One "?" though, what do you have on the bottom of the cage??
If it is wood chip's you should make sure not to feed on them..  i guess from what I have been told boas can not digest wood chips and they may get constipated if they eat one....  This bad because it can mean a trip to the vet and surgery..  Which will cost like twice what you paid for the snake...  Just make sure that you don't feed on any thing that can be swallowed...
Eric aka...Red

[draco842]

Re: Was This wrong to do?

Red is exactly right. I have fed my snakes in there cages a couple times when i had reptile carpet, but dislike it. I am yet to have a problem with feeding them temperament wise, but I use aspen now so I will never feed them in there cages.

[TonyPa]

Re: Was This wrong to do?

Thanks guys.....I fed him a 2nd one after I got back home...Before reading this.....

I tried the box thing, and he would not take it.....He just ignore it....just for the heck of it, i put him in his tank, and he reached out, and took it from me.....The next feeding, I am gonna make sure I don't let him have it in the tank. i was just worried, and really wanted him to eat.

I have that sand they sale in the bags at the exotice pet store...i don't have a lot of options close to me for stuff...I may have to shop on the net....

[Josh]

Re: Was This wrong to do?

Mabe the box your tring to feed him in is to cold. Try putting him in the box and leave him in there for about 20min. then try to feed him.

As for substrate I wouldnt use sand. I would use aspen if it matters to you what the cage looks like. Newspaper and astroturf work well but there ugly though.


-Josh

[TonyPa]

Re: Was This wrong to do?

Thanks...Yes,,I am sure the box is too cold that i was trying to feed him in.... am gonna pick up a rubbermaid before his next feeding..I am guessing one week?....i am gonna leave him alone for 48 hours now,,,well not alone,,,but not handle him,,even though it is driving me nuts.... ddi reach into the tank,,since hand feeding him in his tank....and he just looked at my hand, and didn't jump at me....I was trying to fill his water bowl...not mess with him on purpose....The **** heat bulb blew out,,I was using a 60 watt....15 gallon tank,,,,I only have a 40 watt on hand here,,,"late at night"...and the heat is holding at 80 degreess...I bought a heat mat, and placed it on the backsdie of the tank, and I think the heat is going up and out the top...I better put it underneath the tank I guess....Ok...I am a newbie..I am trying....LOL...Thanks guys,,,,This siter is just awesome!!!!!..I can't quit sitting here reading everything!!!

[Red]

Re: Was This wrong to do?

Ok so I would not use sand... If you do use calci-sand The big stuff... Oh ya put the heating pad under the tank and put a towl over the top you may hove no need for the light... If you can you are going to want to get away from using bulb's... there are several thing that make them not the best choice... Your snake does not need uv-b or a ray's so you can replace that with a che or another heating pad or somthing but the bulb's are nothing but trouble... Now if you do choose to go for the bulb's buy like three or four of them so you have them on hand you will need them... Get aspen or coconut bark... do not use ceder or pine.... Like they said before you can use carpet or new's paper ether work... just not as good look'in...
Well have fun...
Eric aka...Red

[ClayEnglish]

Re: Was This wrong to do?

Avoid any type of sand products for Boa Constrictor Constrictors and Imperators.

While this may be acceptable for sand boas, rosy boas etc. it is not recommended in any fashion for our boas.

Too many problems result in captivity if kept exclusively on sand.

Also, I mention all the time my preference is to stay away for heat bulbs of any kind. You have now experienced this for your self.

Lose the heat bulbs and get a CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter)

Much better, much more reliable, longer lasting by far.